What's Up, Bright Side?

Hey there, Suns Fans. My name is Richard Parker and I am a newly appointed writer on BSotS. It gives me great pleasure to join the site's excellent staff that works to put out the amazing content produced on such a regular basis. Seriously, this place is awesome and I'm glad I can now contribute my share of knowledge, perspective, and occasional mindless drivel.

What's that, you're dying to know everything about me??? Well, I guess I can't deny the masses what the desire.

Let's start with the most important part - my history with the Phoenix Suns.

On May 20, 2005, at the age of 13, I witnessed an event that changed my life forever. Flipping through the mundane choices on my television, I stopped on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network channel (with which I would maintain a love-hate relationship with throughout the years), and fixed my eyes on an NBA game. A team named the Phoenix Suns was playing against the Dallas Mavericks in what was apparently the sixth game of a playoff series.

I fixed my eyes completely on my screen, amazed by the team in purple. As the game continued, I unknowingly caught myself cheering for the Suns, a team which I had no prior affiliation with. I still remember the adrenaline rush I felt when a skinny, short (on my TV, at least), and long-haired white dude made a three-point shot to send the game into overtime, a feeling I would come to be quite familiar with over the years. I was suddenly enchanted by a sport I was barely familiar with, a league I knew nothing about, and a team that I didn't even know existed prior to that night.

I am not at all exaggerating when I proclaim that game 6 of the Suns-Mavs series in the 2005 playoffs changed my life. Since then, the levels of my Suns fanhood have continuously increased over the years, culminating in my authorship on this blog. My interest in basketball as a sport can also be credited almost entirely to Steve Nash and the Suns. Without them, I probably wouldn't be playing recreational basketball as much as I do and I probably wouldn't have a sprained ankle right now. Therefore, screw you Nash (just wanted to get that in there).

Much to the chagrin of the people around me, I am now an obsessed Suns fan. I have been a long-time reader of BSotS (since the 2007 playoffs). I was here when we had a moron meter for Steve Kerr (which, in retrospect, we probably should have saved for the GM that followed him). I was here when Robin Lopez did a Q&A session with readers. I was here for MUST START AND FINISH WITH BARBOSA. Now, I am happy to be here as a writer.

I guess I should share a bit about my life outside the Suns (what, that exists?). I'm originally from California's east bay area -

I was going to make my user name "East Bay Richard" but I didn't want to be labeled a poser/stalker of East Bay Ray - and I have been living in Atlanta for the last four years for college. I just graduated with a BA in Economics and will start working (a real job) in August, so expect my writing output to be at its maximum this summer.

So why start posting now? Everyone knows the old adage, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." Well, when things get tough for real Suns fans, real Suns fans get on BSotS. The team is arguably at its lowest point (success-wise) since I've been a fan. However, my love for and interest in the team is honestly as high as it has ever been. I find that quality in a lot of fans on this blog, which is what not only makes the Bright Side by far the best source of Suns-related news and content, but also the greatest collection of the classiest fans in the world.

In conclusion, I'll do my best to contribute to the brilliant work that the rest of the BSotS staff has shared with fans for many years now. Thanks for welcoming me.

And yes, Richard Parker is a pseudonym. Deal with it.